Wheel structure



Jan. 19, 1943. Y G. AfLYoN 2,308,618 f WHEEL STRUCTURE File-d Jan. 2i, 1941 f y /z Patented Jan. 19, 1943 2,308,618 Y WHEEL STRUCTURE George'AlbertiLyon, Allenhurst, N. Si. Application January,21, 1941, Serial No.=v3'l 5,1'75 v 7 Claims.. .(Cl. 301-37) This invention relates to a wheel structure, and. i

more particularly to the provision of a wheel structure wherein a cover member cooperates in,

a novel and simple way with the rimpart of the wheel structure for the purpose of retaining the cover member on the wheel. l

An object of this invention is to provide in a tion of the cover member cooperates jwith the -radial hump on the rim part;

wheel structure a simple arrangement for enabling a cover member to be snapped into retaining cooperation with the rim part of the wheel. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide a wheel cover for a wheel which is self-retained on the wheel solely by reason of the flexible outer edge portion of the cover member.,

Still another o-b-ject ofv this invention is to provide a wheel cover member either inthe form of a disk or annulus, which has means for retaining it on the wheel, and which' does not detract from the appearance of the cover member.

In accordance with the general features cf this Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view corresponding .to Figure Il but illustrating a modl ification offthe invention wherein theouter edge portion ofthe cover member.k is corrugated and` .wherein the cover-member is `in the form of l,an annulus rather in the form ofasolid disk; and Y,

y Figure is a fragmentary detailed sectional View taken on the line VI-VI of Figure 5 looking upwardly and showing clearly the transverseorl j `1'adial corrugationsin the outer-marginal edge of the cover member.

As shown on the drawing.;

v 'The reference character l El designates generally l amuiti-iiange dropcenter type of'tire r-iin'jwhich comprises one part vof the automobile wheel. t

.''Ihis tire rim part includes a 'base angel liasinvention, there is provided in a wheel structure y including a body part and a multi-flanged drop center rim part which includes an outer axially tened by anysuitable meansito a" central Wheel i l body part i2 which is of conveX-concave'cross sectional shape and includes theusual central bolt-on flange i3. The tirerim part l0 has one i of its axially. extending outer-fiangesiprovided extending flangeihaving a hump,fa cover member i having a serpentine outer edge of a diameter greater than the inner diameterof the hump and flexible upon being pressed against the hump whereby the edge may be snapped over and bewith an annular hump yor protuberance I4 in` which the bead of artire is adapted to be seated, v

and which. cooperates infretaining the tire, bead in place inthe eventoffsudden rupture or deai tion of thetire.`

hind the hump into cover member stressedA retaining engagement with the rim part.

Still another feature of this invention relates,

` It will, of course, be perceivedthat by reason of i thevfact that the annularl hump M is depressed yradially inwardit provides a ygroove in which the to the corrugatingor ridging ofthe outer mar` ginal portion of the cover member adjacent its edge for strengthening the edge portion and for cooperating in the retention of the cover member on the wheel.

tire bead, as `noted abovais adapted to be seated.

It is the aim of this invention toutilize this Other objects and features of this invention Y I,

will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates several. embodiments thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel structure.

embodying th'e features of this invention;

Figure 2 is anenlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 Y and illustrating the manner in which my Wheel cover member cooperates with the rim part ofthe Wheel Figure 3 is a more `or less diagrammatic.View` illustrating the serpentine contour of the outer` edge of the cover member;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary crossssecu tional view corresponding to an upper righthand portion ofFigure 2 and showing more clearly the..

manner in which theV outer.4 serpentine.. edge porber le may be in the form of a solid disk orfhub f 40.

depressed section or hump lf3 as a meanslfor aiding in the retention of a wh-eel cover member,

designated generally by the referencecharacter .l 5, on the wheel.

It should bev noted that the wheel cover memcap as shown in Figure 2 or may be in the form of an annulus as shown in the modification of. l Figure 5.

This cover member is preferably stamped from relatively thin sheet metal such as stainless steel or ,the like and may, of course, be4 suitably ornamented as desired., Such a cover f.

member may, for example, be made from sheet steel having1r a thickness of .,02.

The cover member, as it will be perceived from Figures `2, 4, and 5, has a cross sectional shape conforming generally to the outer cross sectional conguration of the rim and body parts of the wheel ln addition to including a portion for dispositionlover the body part of the wheel, the

s cover member l5 includes the diagonally outwardly extending outer margin I6 whichtermi?,v

nates in a serpentine or tortuous edge Il. This edge normally has a diameter slightly in excess of the inner diameter of the surface of the hump I4 so as to require flexing of the edge in order for it t pass over and behind the hump to the retaining position shown in Figures 2J 4, and 5 of the drawing. By making the edge I1 of a serpentine shape, it will, of course, be appreciated that the edge does not require as much flexing as it would if it were a true circular edge in order for it to be snapped over and behind the hump I4. In other words, it is only necessary to flex the alternate high spots of the serpentine edge in order for it to be flexibly and resiliently forced into cover member retaining cooperation with the rear side of the hump. Then, too, by making the portion I6 so that it extends diagonally outward, it will, of course, be appreciated that the edge I7 is so directed that it may be most eiectively used to concentrate its retaining force c-n the rear side of the hump I4.

In Figures and 6, I have illustrated a modification of the` invention wherein the cover member I5 is in the form of an annulus as noted before. This cover member is cooperable with the same wheel shown in Figures 2 and 4, and hence the same reference numerals have been used to designate the parts of this wheel. The cover member I5 of this form of the invention, like the cover I5, has a cross sectional configuration corresponding generally to the outer contour of the parts of the Wheel over which the member is disposed. As in the preferred form of the invention, the outer marginal portion I6 of the cover member extends diagonally outward but instead of having its extreme outer edge cut to provide the serpentine effect previously described, the marginal portion itself is corrugated. By reason of the corrugations in the portion I6' the outer edge I1', as best shown in Figure 6, is in reality given a tortuous or serpentine configuration. Moreover, as in the preferred form of the invention alternate outwardly extending high points 0f this edge are adapted to contact the rear side of the hump I il from the cover memer being pressed in an axial direction against the wheel. These corrugations tend to strengthen the outer marginal portion of the cover member, without detracting from the efficacy of the edge in its retaining function.A Also, the corrugations lend themselves admirably to decoration in addition to providing for Ventilating openings through which air can circulate from behind the cover member and through the usual openings in the wheel body at the junction of the wheel body with the rim part.

In both forms of the invention, the cover member may be easily applied to the wheel by simply pressing it axially on the wheel until its outer edge has snapped over and behind the hump Ill into retaining engagement therewith. Similarly, the cover member may be removed from the wheel by inserting a suitable pry-ofi tool under Y l. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a body and a multi-hanged drop center rim part, said rim part including an outer axially extending flange provided with a hump, and a circular cover member having a serpentine outer edge with crest portions lying in a circle of a diameter greater than the inner diameter of said hump and flexible upon being pressed against said hump whereby said edge may be snapped over and behind said hump into stressed cover member retaining engagement with said rim part.

2. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a body and a multi-flanged drop center rim part, said rim part including an outer axially extending flange provided with a hump, and a circular cover member having a serpentine outer edge with crest portions lying in a circle of a diameter greater than the inner diameter of said hump Yand flexible upon being pressed against said hump ing flange provided with a hump, and a circularcover member having a serpentine outer edge with crest portions lying in a circle of a diameter greater than the inner diameter of said hump and flexible upon being pressed against said hump whereby said edge may be snapped over and behind said hump into cover member retaining engagement with said rim part, said cover member having its outer marginal portion radially corrugated, said corrugated portion having alternate corrugations in contact with the rear side of said hump.

4. As an article of manufacture, a circular cover member for retaining cooperation with an inwardly axially extending hump on the flange of a wheel rim part, said cover member having a diagonally turned outer marginal portionprovided with a serpentine edge flexible over and behind the hump on the rim part for retaining cooperation therewith, said diagonal portion being radially corrugated with alternate corrugations projecting radially outward for retaining engagement with the rear side of the hump on the rim part.

5. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a body and a multi-flanged drop center rim part, said rim part including an outer axially extending flange provided with a hump, and a circular cover member having a serpentine outer edge with crest portions lying in a circle of a diameter greater than the inner diameter of said hump and flexible upon being pressed against said hump whereby said edge may be snapped over and behind said hump into cover member retaining engagement with said rim part, said cover member having its outer marginal portion turned diagonally outwardly and terminating in said serpentine edge.

6. In a wheel structure, a wheel including a body and a multi-flanged drop center rim part, said rim part including an outer axially extending flange provided with a hump, and a circular cover member having a serpentine outer edge with crest portions lying in a circle of a diameter greater than the inner diameter of said hump and flexible upon being pressed against said hump wherebyv said edge may be snapped over and behind said hump into cover member retaining encover member having an outer edge flexible upon being pressed against said hump whereby said edge may be snapped over and behind said hump into cover member retaining engagement with said rim part, said edge having alternate high points whereby the edge can contact the rear side of the hump at spaced intervalsL GEORGE ALBERT LYON. 

